Education Secretary Damian Hinds says parents cannot veto LGBT lessons
Damian Hinds (Leon Neal/Getty)
Education Secretary Damian Hinds has said that parents should not be allowed to veto LGBT+ lessons in schools.
Hinds made the comments in a letter to Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, following protests at Parkfield Community School in Birmingham.
In the letter, Hinds said that consulting with parents was an important process for schools—but said: “I want to reassure you and the members you represent that consultation does not provide a parental veto on curriculum content.
“We want schools to consult parents, listen to their views, and make reasonable decisions about how to proceed (including through consideration of their wider duties)—and we will support them in this.
“We trust school leaders and teachers to make the right professional choices and act reasonably when considering consultation feedback, and are clear that dedicated public servants faithfully discharging their duty have an absolute right to feel confident and safe.”
Elsewhere in the letter, Hinds said he wanted to see all young people made to feel “included” and said they should “grow up understanding the value and importance of kindness and respect for others and themselves.”
Damian Hinds’ comments come after protests at Parkfield Community School in Birmingham
Hinds’ support for schools and teachers teaching children about LGBT+ identities and issues comes after protests at Parkfield Community School in Birmingham caused a media frenzy in the UK.
The school suspended its No Outsiders programme after a number of parents withdrew their children from the school and protested outside last month.
Approximately 600 children, from mostly Muslim backgrounds, were reported to be kept at home for the day.
“I want to reassure you and the members you represent that consultation does not provide a parental veto on curriculum content.”
– Damian Hinds
Ofsted has ruled that there is “no evidence” to support criticism of the programme.
Hinds had previously rowed in behind teachers and schools last month, and said “we expect all pupils to have been taught” about LGBT+ issues in an interview with Schools Week.
“I’ve always been clear that I support headteachers to make decisions and we believe in school autonomy, that school leaders are best-placed to make decisions.”
Damian Hinds (Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty)
A survey published this week found parents and teachers overwhelmingly support LGBT+ lessons
Meanwhile, a survey released yesterday to TES found that parents and teachers overwhelmingly support LGBT+ lessons for children.
94 percent of those surveyed said they thought it was important that children learn about LGBT+ identities in school. The same number of people said schools have a responsibility to promote LGBT+ inclusion.
88 percent of those surveyed said parents should not have the right to withdraw children from lessons about LGBT+ people. The same number said that schools who taught children about LGBT+ issues were not promoting a sexual orientation or gender identity.
However, support for teaching younger children about LGBT+ issues was slightly lower. 76 percent said schools should teach children about different types of relationships from the age of 4.
